Soda pop, like cigarettes and alcohol, has been classified by the government as bad for your health . This is supported by ‘research’ sponsored by your always caring and compassionate federal government and their associates over at the Rand Corp. Why is it bad for you? It causes obesity in children.

Why do we need them? We can grow our own grapes
and make alcohol. We can grow our own food.
We can make our own candy.
Then where will they get the extra money?
They will only tax something else to make
their lives glorified..

I can see the grin on your face as you wrote this opinion, even though we both know the subject matter is serious.
However, some of the heaviest people I’ve seen are those from the entitlement class.

Any person who receives taxpayer money to purchase food “must” purchase “high calorie food”.
That is in the federal regulations. Apparently that is one regulation that will not be repealed.
One other federal regulation states: Any female who is seriously overweight must wear day glow spandex when out in public places.

I don’t feel these regulations are over reaching; we need the gov to keep us in control.

The REST of us have to pay for the excesses and lack of self control for people who drink too much of that crap. It is only fair to let the people consuming that crap contribute to the expenses they bring on us all.

Now I'm being told what to eat and drink and if I don't do it I have to pay for it threw tax.

For who thinks this is reasonable, just wait till it's something you enjoy that you will have to pay extra tax. Like say coffee? It can be just as unhealthy.

And for "not yet." If it takes longer than 26 years to start seeing a difference than how bad can it realy be? Besides that is not the point. It's wasn't the concern of my current health care plan and now the government is involved it suddenly a big deal.

People had better get used to being told what to do and how to think. "Your" president intends to run everything before he is through. He is an ego maniac who wants to be the ruler of the world. If he and his cronies think they can tell Israel what and where to build, then maybe China or one of the other countries we owe so much to will start telling us if and when we can build a Wal-Mart.

* 1. Heart disease. This is somewhat controversial. Most prospective cohort studies haven't found that coffee consumption is associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

On one hand, diterpenes cafestol and kahweol present in unfiltered coffee and caffeine each appear to increase risk of coronary heart disease. High quality studies [6] have confirmed the cholesterol-raising effect of diterpenes. Also, coffee consumption is associated with an increase of plasma homocysteine, a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

On the other hand, a lower risk of heart disease among moderate coffee drinkers might be due to antioxidants found in coffee.
* 2. Cholesterol. Heavy consumption of boiled coffee elevates blood total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels [7]. Unfiltered coffee contains two cholesterol-raising compounds cafestol and kahweol.
* 3. Blood vessels. Coffee negatively affects the blood vessel tone and function.
* 4. Heart rhythm disturbances. Coffee can cause rapid or irregular heartbeats (cardiac arrhythmias).
* 5. Blood pressure. Although coffee drinking is not a significant risk factor for hypertension, it produces unfavorable effects on blood pressure [8] and people prone to hypertension may be more susceptible. Recent Italian study found that coffee drinking can slightly increase the risk for development of sustained hypertension in people with elevated blood pressure.
* 6. Osteoporosis. Coffee intake may induce an extra urinary excretion of calcium. Heavy coffee consumption (600 ml or more) can modestly increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially in women with a low calcium intake [9].
* 7. Heartburn. A cup of coffee can trigger the heartburn.
* 8. Sleep. Most are aware of the stimulatory effects of caffeine. High amounts of caffeine taken before going to sleep can cause difficulty falling asleep, tendency to be awakened more readily by sudden noises, and a decreased quality of sleep. However, some people can drink coffee and fall right asleep.
* 9. Dehydration. The caffeine in coffee is a mild diuretic and can increase urine excretion. This effect may be easily neutralized by drinking an extra glass of water.
* 10. Dependence. Although "generally recognized as safe" by the FDA, caffeine is still a drug, a mild central nervous system stimulant, and it produces dependence. Caffeine withdrawal is a real syndrome. You may get a few days of headache and irritability if you choose to quit drinking coffee, however, it is relatively easy to break this habit, and most people are not addicted to caffeine.

I do believe the over weight problem in the US is at an epidemic stage. It seems the more rural the environment the more dramatic the problem. We are a super size for supper consumer. Diabetes and heart disease in the US is disproportional to other countries. Most snack foods sold, like soft drinks is made as cheap as possible for the highest return on investment and with no regard for the over consumption. Like most things in a capitalistic economy, it will not change until it is profitable to do so or unprofitable to indulge. For those who believe it’s just another step toward socialism, consider the alcohol problem in Eastern Europe in which socialist economy has not curved the magnitude of that dilemma, as well as, the smoking problem in China.

There's been great discussion in the news recently about bullying in the schools. Children have taken their own lives because they couldn't cope with excessive bullying.

With all these Bully tactics to tax soda, fight obesity for the good of society, etc. - the accepted reported "Fact" that fat people are lazy and a drain on the citizenry - it will create a burst of people that will be marginalized and bullied by the taxpayer with the approval of the biggest bully of all - The Federal Government.

No entity does a better job of shaming and bullying society into handing over money than the Government.

In 1998, upon recommendations of the World Health Organization (the wannabe saviour of us all) the BMI index in use up to that point was lowered. Instantly, virtually overnight, 25 million Americans were now considered overweight.

Want an "epideminc?",....lower the threshold and "presto!, a new reason to regulate.

All anybody has to do is to make a trip to walmart and if then you are not convienced that America has a big problem with obesity you are either blind, have a fetish for cellulite, or one of the folks so over weight that you have to ride around to shop in one of the Walmart electric scooter.

Everyone that thinks taxes are just, remember this is only one tax heading to every door in the country.This tax did not upset all of you (as it should have), but just remember the next tax probably will hit you right between the ears. All taxes that are put into law to punish diferent groups of our fellow Americans, should be met with fierce resistance. The people who come up with these type of ideas on taxes need to be voted out of office and put in the street where they belong, not trying to run my life and or telling me what I can drink or eat, for it is none of their business. If some of you people want to change lifestyles and wish taxes on certain people, just think you probably eat or drink something that will be next on the imperial GOV. list. It probably will be comming to your door real soon. Be sure and open the door and let it in. Then I would like to hear all of the whineing and bitching that will go on, because it happened to you and your family. Have nerve enough to walk up to the next fat person you see, rideing a skooter, drinking a soft drink, or eating something that you think they should not, and tell them in person, you think you know what is best for them no matter what they think, and you may get your head punched. Don't hide behind anonymous where you feel comfortable, do it up front and in full view. The only way to make a change in habits, will have to start at home with mom and dad, not giving the imperial GOV. more money to buy votes and stay in power, with the idea we need them to watch over us and to be punished when we do not jump through hoops when orders are given to the dumb-masses. There are too many people with too much tme, that have too many opinions about everyone else but themselves. You are absolutely perfect!!!!! JUST WAIT TILL THE VAT TAX GETS HERE, THEN EVERYONE WILL BE UP IN ARMS,(IF WE STILL HAVE THEM.) That is counting all the people that are ok with this one tax on fat folks. You may be next!!!!!!!!

Only registered users may comment on stories. Please login or register to post comments. Your browser must support cookies.